Is Starting 3Rd Grade Too Late to Start Attending a German School?

Best time to pick up a second (or third or more) language is before age 12 so I'd go for it and see how he does.

What a small world! My husband and I worked in Hohenfels, which falls under Grafenwoehr. We've made many trips up to Graf when we lived in the Hohenfels area. He still shops at the Graf PX when he goes up to Hohenfels (he telecommutes, but his main office is in Hohenfels). We're now down in Garmisch.

My son is in German school; but he has lived in Germany his whole life. He went to German kindergarten (preschool) for 3 years and then to German school. So far he is doing very well and is totally bilingual. One of his classmates (he's in 4th grade) started in 2nd grade not knowing any German (he's Croatian and also speaks Croatian and English) and is now doing very well. My son's school provides extra German time for foreign students and those who are having trouble in general, which this Croatian boy had. Now the Croatian kid speaks German very well, though he has a Slavic accent. So it can be done, though your son will probably have to work harder than his peers. One advantage of being a kid is that languages come easier than for adults.

Some things you want to ask yourself and consider:

1. If a child comes into a German school without requisite German proficiency, there's a good chance the school will put him back a year. Many parents can't take the ego blow of having their child put back. This will actually help your son because the vocabulary is that much simpler. The Croatian boy in my son's class was put into 2nd instead of 3rd grade because of the lack of German proficiency. The work in German schools is at a higher level than that of US schools. In being put back a grade, your son may actually be where he was in his US school. I've found that the on-base school here in Garmish is about a year behind the German school in math.

2. Will there be other English-speaking kids at the school? That will really help your son to transition to learning German. One of the things that helped the Croatian boy in my son's class is that my son speaks English. The teacher paired my son with the Croatian. This gave him a buddy in the class who spoke one of his languages, which made him feel less lost. I'd imagine there are some military and civilian personnel who have their kids in local German schools in the Grafenwoehr area. There are so many Americans in the area, you'd be able to find other Americans (or Americans with German spouses) who have kids in German schools.

3. Does the school provide any extra German for foreign kids or those who are having trouble? My son did the supplemental German in 1st-3rd grade and was deemed good enough not to have to take it in 4th. I feel that it helped him. This would help your son to better understand his work. It would also help you if your German is rusty.

4. Is DODDS schooling one of your benefits? I'd look into the DODDS school on the base as a fallback. If your son is having trouble in German school, then he can go to the on-post school.

5. Do you have a positive attitude toward the Germans? Many Americans have a negative attitude toward the local Germans, which rubs off on the kids. Therefore, the kids have a bad attitude toward German school from the start. If you keep things positive and have good communication with the teacher, then things should be okay.

6. German parents treat the teachers like the professionals they are. There is no concept of blaming the teacher if the child has problems. In the classroom, the teacher's word is law. German teachers are very strict about discipline and homework. For example, my son had to write a page a few times last year for misbehavior. If a child doesn't do his homework, he may be required to stay for an hour after school to work on it.

7. In German schools the classes take more field trips and are generally given more independence during those trips. At least that's the case with my son's school. Garmisch is a small town and the kids walk to most of their field trips (town library, theater, market).

8. Parents generally aren't welcome in the classroom like in US schools. As I said before, the classroom is the teacher's domain. Schools do have a parent board. Every teacher also has a conference period, during which parents are welcome to speak with him/her. But there are no parent aides like in the US.

9. What will your workday be like? German elementary schools usually let out by 1 pm. That's because there are no lunchrooms. The kids bring a snack to school to eat during the daily recess period. Then they go home for lunch. The on-post after school care opens after the US school lets out (around 2.30 pm). If you and your husband are working, you have to think about child care between the time your son is out of school and when the after school care place opens. Graf is a large post; there may be a waiting list for after school care. There have been times when I've had to leave work for 1.5 hours to watch my son until the on-post after school care opened.

10. German holidays don't always coincide with the US ones. The US school on base follows the US holiday schedule. German schools obviously follow the German holiday schedule. How flexible is your job in taking time off during German holiday periods? You'd have to make arrangements for child care during those times.

11. The German school year is longer (mid Sept-late July/early August) with only a 6-week summer break. There are a lot more 1-2 week holiday periods sprinkled throughout the school year. A lot of the summer on-post activities are geared toward the longer summer break of the US school.

I chose the German system because I felt that my son is getting a better education than he would at the on-base school. But each family is different. You need to do what you feel is right for your son and family. Good luck.

S.

Wheeee! So much FUN!

So...this is going to be in 2.5 parts.

1) I have no personal experience with the german school system. My brother however, lived in Stuttgart for quite some time (still visits friends regularly all over Deutchland). I'll shoot him an email, and get some on the ground opinions for you...if you don't get them here first.

2) Personal Experience:
a) Growing up Navy, we spent most of our childhood overseas. Sometimes we went to DoD schools (a plague upon them), sometimes we went to schools "out in town". We went to local schools when we were younger, and DoD schools later (like for the 7th grade, when I would have needed to know over 1000 Kanji symbols, to be even considered for the remedial grade level). DoD schools are notoriously bad. HOWEVER, "The American School in ________" or the "UK School _______" ...the private ones for expats and diplomat's kids tend to be amazing.

b) In the 2nd grade I was bumped back a grade level, only to leave two years later fluent in japanese, and a summer's worth of work (my mum felt strongly that I shouldn't be repeating the grade AGAIN, in English...so she tutored me over the summer) actually had me "skipped" a year AHEAD once I got back to the states. Go figure. Unfortunately, I didn't keep up on my Japanese (written) so when we went back 4 years later I had to go DoD. Germany uses the same writing system we do, so even if you bounce back and forth, your son shouldn't have that problem

2.5) Suspicions & Opinions

a) My suspicion is that your son is at the PERFECT age to be going to a local school. They may bump him back a grade level (or even two), but the work will still be challenging because he'll be doing it in a different language... and as soon as he's up to speed language-wise, schools then USUALLY (in my experience) bump them up to the level appropriate. If your son is a little behind socially, being a year back, might actually be perfect for him.

b) The fluency, and ability to *think* in 2 different languages is by far, more rare and valuable then not doing the same math as other 3rd graders back home.

c) Nearly every German speaks English. Most, actually speak several languages. This should make it much easier on your daughter, because the teacher will be able to clarify some of the things that she doesn't understand in German, especially in the beginning.

Anyhow... while this has been a spiel for the incredible opportunity of going to school overseas, I'll give the floor over to those who have actually dealt with the school system you're looking at... and get in touch with my brother.

Best of luck to you!

wow i think your reply from sue b was terrific! also small world - my father was in the military and we also lived in grafenwoeher for 4 years. i was a toddler and then in preschool so of course i picked up the language easily. my older bros and sis were probably 6 and 7 when they started and now they still speak german because they remember it! i do not unfortunately. it will be a great experience. and don't worry. fyi - i have longed to return to germany for 40 years and now this summer we are finally going! can't wait to relive all those wonderful childhood memories!

I believe children are amazingly adept. If your little guy is as adept academically as you say, and you already speak some German in the home, I say go for it. You know that children who traditionally spoke Spanish in thier homes used to be plunged into American schools (I believe it should still be this way) to speak English only. With-in two years not only could they converse as a natural born American, they were fairly adept at proper gramar with the written word.
I say go for it, he may even develop some social skills while leaning on friendly children who are helping him communicate.
The other option would be to place him in the school set up for military dependents. They will receive education in the local language, (Svaybish - I'm uncertain of the spelling) being the local dialect in Bavaria. My two little guys attended a very small class at the (here again spelling is my enemy) Flegerhorst at a very small MUNSS site in souther Bavaria. Had we stayed longer, I would have placed them in the German school system.
Good Luck and enjoy the beauty of that part of the world!

Dear Collen;
It will NEVER ever be late to start the acquisition of another language, specially when you are bound to use it in the immediate future. It may take us longer to learn as we become older that's all.
Two years ago, my son moved to Berlin, he now speaks the language, fluently.
It will be a plus if your son has a headstart on the language he will be needing. Also tell him he will be doing the same subjects in school no matter what part of the in the world you have to live in.
It also pays to become a little more involved in his schooling like allowing yourself to spend at least 20 min. seating with him and helping him find the answers
when he does his homework.
I also congratulate you for being a scientist, we dont have many of you. thank you!

If he is very bright academically, I would think fluency in another language will benefit him enormously in his life. Maybe you could have him repeat a grade in the german school, so he can concentrate more on learning German than struggling with learning new concepts while learning a new language. It might also help him socially if he knows the score on the curriculum already, too. I don't have any experience with this, but my husband's mother moved to this country as an adult and started a family. Her english was poor, but she did not speak Mandarin with her children, because she wanted them to learn english. He will never forgive her! Now, not only does he NOT know how to speak another language, his english foundation was broken english! Anyway, anything that you can do to facilitate him becoming fluent in a second language will benefit him enormously.

What does your son think?

Hello C.,

My child was born in the USA and whe she was 5 years old I moved to Belgium. She understood a couple of words in Dutch but not inoff to comunicate. She was very shy and like your child not very social. I do have regret about puttinh her through a very difficult time but she picked up the language very quiekly. She was not happy at school. But when she was at home I gave her a lot of quiality time and I try to keep her exieted about all little things aroundher and kept it in a positive way so she could try to see things more exiting at school while she had to be there without me (I was a single mom )
My advice to you is. It's OK. to put your boy in a German school, he would learn the language, but makesure you and his family at home make time for him. And always listen to what he is saying. It will not be easy for a while. Also keep him in contact with English speking children too.
My child was in 3the grade the best student in Dutch language from my district.Soooooo it's wordt it. You know you child best and think of all the pro's and contra's. And preper your child in a positieve way if you disside to send him to a German szchool/
I lived in L.A. for 8 years, the best years of my life. I came back to Belgium to take care of my mother, she became 100 years old and pased away 2 years ago.
When my child finisched her study's we would like to come back to live in California She know now Flamish, Dutch, French, Latin, English, some Greek, and German.

Remember Coleen languages are very important in life.

You can e-mail me I still have a German friend living close to L.A.

my name is V. e-mail ____@____.com

I'm always willing to talk. Let me know what you have dissided.

Take care of that wonderfull boy of yours!!

V.

I moved to Spain when my daughters were 7 & 8 years old and they totally adapted. In a few months they were speaking not only Spanish fluently but also Catalan, which is the language spoken in the region we moved to. Children are really like sponges and learn very quickly. My daughters also caught up on the more advanced levels of math, science, etc.
If you can give your son the opportunity to learn another language and culture, please do, it is a great advantage!

Best of luck to you!

Congrats on such a wonderful experience! It is NEVER too late to immerse a child in a foreign language. I have students in my middle school classes (7th grade) straight from Mexico, never spoken English. They have mastered speaking & writing (English) by the end of the year. It would be such a rare & beneficial opportunity for you to put your guy in a German school. Socially, they'll love him b/c he's an American! =) Best of luck!

My kids are multi lingual, and attend a dual language program. I am certain that the language issue would be quickly overcome, but to me the larger issue is the social one.

Hopefully, this will be a great experience for him, but it would not be suprising if he's a bit of of sorts for a while. If social skills are not his strong point I'd look for a school where you feel these needs will be best addresssed. He's at an age where there is still time to do a lot of education and really help him. Assuming he has no organic reason for this weakness (asberger's etc) I'd strongly suggest you look for a typical child social skills group. These are typcially run by child psychologists, and teach kids the social nuances that they lack.

Good luck, and enjoy your move.

I think he should be fine. Children generally pick up an new language very quickly. We had friends who went to Costa Rica...their young daughter ended up in a German speaking school and she pick up not only German, but Spanish as well from playing with the children in the neighborhood. Explain to the teachers and to your son what is happening. It will be a good adventure for him. Most children are interested in "foreign" children and he may pick up a few good friends. You may need to spend more time with him in the evening helping him with homework so he can keep up.